Spring-inserting mechanism



Sept. 25, 1928.

J. F. GAIL SPRING INSERT ING MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 22, 1925 I5Sheets-Sheet Sept. 25, 1928.

J. F. GAIL SPRING INSERTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22,1925 J F GAIL SPRING INSERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1925 3SheetsSheet 5 Patented Sept. 25, 1 928.

4 UNITED STATES JOHN F. GAIL, F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SIMMONSCOMPANY, OF NEW 1,685,566 PATENT OFFICE.

YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SPBING-INSERTING MECHANISM.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for inserting springsinto open ended flexible pockets and, although possibly susceptible ofdifferent applications, is particularly adapted for the purpose ofmanufacturing cushions or mattresses of the type disclosed in the UnitedStates patent to Marshall, No. 685,160.

Heretofore, the springs or helicals of the 10 Marshall construction havebeen generally inserted into the pockets or strips of pockets by hand orby manually actuated devices such as disclosed in the United Statespatents to Shields, No. 1,445,416, Genge No. 1,370,533 or r Read, No.1,218,314. In these forms of apparatus the spring has been thrust intothe pocket by some form of pusher mechanism which placed the springdirectly in the pocket inthe position to be occupied by said springpermanently, i. e. with its axis aligned with the axis of the pocket.

The patent to Meutsch et al., No. 1,348,654 describes a machine forcompressing the springs longitudinally and then thrusting the sameradially or laterally into the pockets so that the axes of-the springsextend transversely across the pocket instead of in their true finalposition longitudinally thereof. However, these patentees do notdisclose any means or apparatus for turning the springs intotheir'correct longitudinal position after the open ends of the pocketshave been closed or sewed. Although such spring turning may be effectedmanually, the construction of a satisfactory apparatus for performingthis step automatically involves considerable difliculty.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means for placingsprings in such pockets substantially automatically; to perform suchinserting operation in such manner that the springs are placed in thepockets in their true or final position; to provide improved means foractuating the retaining clamps by which the springs are prevented fromretracting during the subsequent opera tion of closing the ends of thepockets; to

provide means whereby springs received from or deposited by a coilingmechanism are transported and inserted into the pockets; to provide animproved arrangement whereby the making or feeding of the springs-mayproceed uninterruptedly while the filled strips are being removed andthe unfilled strips brought into register with the machine and, ingeneral, to provide a simple, efiicient,

economical and rugged mechanism of the character described.

. In the drawings wherein I have shown my invention as applied to amachine for making :pring strips for a cushion of the Marshall Fig. 1 isa plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

4 is an enlarged View of a portion of Fig. 3, but-showing certain partsin a different position.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the retaining tongs or clamps showing a stripof springs held therein preparatory to sewing of the open ends of thepockets; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the completed strips with thesprings therein and the ends of the pockets closed.

Referring to the drawings it will be observed that the main parts of themechanism are mounted upon a substantially rectangular cast iron frameor bed 10 which, at either end, is supported by suitable legs as at 11.At one end of the main frame 10 and supported thereby, I mount thespring making or coil- .ing mechanism which may be of any desired powersupply for the other mechanisms on the machine.

Near the ends of the frame there are mounted a pair of horizontal crossshafts21 and 22 which carry the conveyor mechanism.

Said conveyor mechanism comprises a pair of endless chains 23 and 24trained around sprockets as at 25 keyed to shaft 21 and sprockets 26keyed to the shaft 22. On the shaft 21 there is also keyed a ratchetwheel 27 which is actuated intermittently or step by step by a pawl 28pivoted on' the rock lever 29 which is loosely mounted on shaft 21.

' 5 between hooks 33 anti- 34 respectively fixed on the main frame andon the pull rod 30.

. On the main drive shaft 19 of the spring coiling mechanism there iskeyed a sprocket 35 around which is trained a chain 36, which 10 chaindrives a sprocket 37 keyed to a shaft 38 mounted to rotatein bearingsformed in a pair of upstanding floor brackets 39 and 40.

It will be observed that the sprocket 37 is considerably larger than thesprocket 35 so that the shaft 38 will be driven at a reduced speed.Tosaid shaft 38 there is also keyed a pinion 41 which drives a largespur gear 42 keyed to a shaft 43 also mounted to rotate in the brackets39 and 40. To said sh aft 43 there is also keyed a star shaped radialcam 44 formed in the present case with six lobes 45 .so as toaccommodate strips containing six helicals. In a boss on the side of thefloor bracket 39, there'is fixed ashort stud 46 which 2 furnishes abearing or pivot for one. end of.

the cam lever 47, said cam lever intermediate its length being equippedwith a cam roll 48 cooperating with the cam 44. In the present instance,I have shown cam lever 47 as being bifurcated or in two parts betweenwhich the cam roll 48 is rotatably'mounted. The outer end of the lever47 carries a pin 49 by which said lever is pivotally connected to thelower end of the ratchet pull rod 30 so that as the shaft 43 revolvesthere will be a reciprocation of said pull rod 30 for each lobe of thecam 44, that is to say, six reciprocations for each revolution of theshaft 43.

These springs or helicals as they are coiled 4e and cut ofi by thespring mechanism, are deposited on supports carried by the chains 23 andspaced in conformity with the spacing of the pockets in the strip, thestroke oft'he ratch- -et mechanism which drives said chains beingadjusted accordingly. Each of said supports comprises a substantiallyhorizontally, extending trough 50, semi-circular in cross section and ofsufficient length tohold or contain a helical. Preferably, the forwardedges of 50 said troughs 50 are flanged over or flared 'slightly asshown at'51 so that each spring as it is cut off by the spring makingmechanism will seat itself without catching on the edge of the trough.Also, as shown best in 5 Fig; 3, the inner end of the trough is flareddown slightly as indicated at 52 and the outer end is bent upwardlyslightly as shown at 53. In order still further to guide the springs andinsure their proper position in the supports or troughs 50, I prefer toplace a stationary stop strip or guide54 infront of the outer ordeliveryends of the troughs 50, said guide 54 being flared upwardly sothat the helicals will not catch on the upper edge of said guide 54.Also in order to line up the sections 59.

rear edges of the said helicals, I may use an other inner guide member55which will force back into proper position in-its trough, any springwhich extends too far inwardly.

The unfilled strip having open ended pockets is placed with its mouth oropen end as shown at 56 in Fig. 3 so as to register and receive a set ofsix springs delivered from the step by step conveyor. In order to effectsuch register and to enable the springs to be inserted into saidpockets, I provide a series of stationary chutes spaced in accordancewith the spacing of the troughs 50 on the conveyor and adapted toregister therewith. Each of said chutes comprises a small bracket. 57secured to the top 58 of the main frame 10 and serving as a support fora sheet metal cylinder 59 of sufficient internal diameter to admit thehelical 60 when thrust therethrougn in a directionlongitudinally of itsaxis. In order to enable the open ends of the flexible pockets of thestrip to be conveniently applied over the chute sections 59, the latteris preferably equipped with resilient fingers or straps 61 spaced aroundthe peripher of the cylinder 59 and bent so that normal y the outer endsof said fingers61 will come substantially to a point as indicated inFigs. 1 and 3. Said straps or fingers 61 constitute in effect, outerflexible extensions ofthe cylinders or chute Since it requires someconsiderable time to remove a filled strip and to apply an unfilledstrip to the delivery chutes, I find it advantageous to deliver theentire set or gang of springs simultaneously. This enables the springsto be fed or delivered continuously to the conveyor while the-changefrom a filled to an vunfilled strip is being' made. To this end I employa delivery mechanism equipped in the present instance with a series ofsix pushers or plungers. Each of said pushers or plungers comprises adisc or collar 62 mounted on the ends of push rods 63, each of whichslides in a long bearing 64 on a bracket 65 secured to the table-58 ofthe main frame. The disc or collar 62 is slightly larger than thediameter of the spring 60 but is small I enough to enter the chute 59.For a purpose hereinafter to be described, there are cut in the disc 62a pair of verticallyaligned, diametrically opposed notches 66.

Each of the plunger rods 63 isflat-tened at its rear end as shown at 67and apertured to fit a bail rod 68 so that actuation of the bail 68 willoperate all of the plungers simultaneously. Said bail 68 adjacent itsends, constitutes a bearing for a pair of flanged rollers 69, each ofwhich is straddled or positioned within a slot 70 in the upper end of anactuating lever 71. I'lach'of said actuating levers 71vis keyed to theend of a. rock shaft 72, journa-led in spaced bearings 73 and 74 of abracket 75 bolted to frame 11.. Said shaft 72 is oscillated by adepending lever 6 keyed 130 thereto and having at its lower end a camroll 77. The cam roll 77 is located in the slot or groove 78 of a barrelcam 79 keyed to the time shaft 43. Said barrel cam 79 is equipped with asingle actuating lobe 80 so that the plungers 63 will be actuated oncefor each revolution of the time shaft 43. It will be understood that thelobe S0 is so shapedand dimensioned that the plungers 63 are enabled tomake substantially a complete reciprocation during a rest interval ofthe conveyor, that is tosay, between a pair of adjacent step by stepmovements thereof.

It is desirable to have some means for maintaining the springs orhelicals within the pockets, and preferably in the partially compressedcondition therein until the pocket closing has been effected, that is tosay, until the edges of the open ended pockets have been sewed togetherby a longitudinal line of stitching extending along the edge of thestrip as indicated in Fig. 6. Devices for the purpose of retaining thesprings in said position in the strip are indicated in some of thepatents previously referred to. However, manually controlled or operateddevices are usually not economical or efficient for highspeedproduction, nor would it be convenient to use a manually operateddevicein conj unction with a continuous or automatic high speed machineof the type disclosed herein. Therefore, I prefer a retaining clamp ortongs which is capable of being actuated auto- 'matically in synchronismwith the inserting mechanism.

The retaining devices are mounted upon a downwardly offset portion 81 ofthe frame table 58 which serves as a temporar support or guideway for aremovable base pi ate 82 on which the tongs or retainers proper aremounted. Said base plate 82 at its inner end or edge is interlocked withthe table 58 by undercutting the offset portion thereof so as to form anoverhanging ledge 83 under which the inner edge of the basep'late 82extends. The base plate 82 is prevented from backing off during theinsertion o eration by an abutment bar 84 extending a ong the rearedge-of the plate 82 and carried by a pair of arms 85, the outer ends ofwhich are curved downwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to rock on pins 86, onstationary. lugs 87, on side 88, of frame '11. A handle 89 on one of thehinged arms is provided to facilitate the rocking back ofthe lock b ar,,84 into dotted line position as indicated in -mg. 3 whenever it isdesired to free the base plate 82 in changing the strip.

The base plate 82 is made with a plurality of upstanding brackets-90,forming bearings for the spaced superposed vertically aligned rockshafts" 91 and 92. Said rock shafts 91 and 92 carry six sets of tongs orclamps, each set comprising an upper jaw member 93 keyed to shaft 91 anda lower jaw member 94 keyed to shaft 92. Each of said jaws is made witha short claw 95 shaped and positioned so that when the jaw shaft issuitably rocked on its axis at the time when the in serting plungers areat their outer limit of movement, the claw 95 will enter notch 66 andengage behind the rear coil of the partially compressed helical.-

I employ special mechanism for maintaini outer ends of the arms 96 and97 have mount ed thereon pins 100 and 101 connected together by a coiltension spring 102, said pins 100 and 101 beingso positioned that thearrangement comprises in effect a cross-thecenter spring mechanism forholding the rock shafts 91 and 92 in either of two positions. A pair ofstop pins 103. and 104 limit the opening movement of the tongs throughbeing engaged by the sides of the inner ends of the rock arms 96 and 97.A handle105 on the outer end of arm 96 enables the tongs to beconveniently released from the pocket strip after the same has had itspockets sewed or closed.

The tongs are automatically actuated by the movement of the plungers 62.For effecting this, I equip said pushers or plungers with an extensionstud 106 of suitable length toengage the ends of small trip arms 107 and108 keyed respectively to the shafts 91 and 92, preferably, being madeintegral with the jaw members 93 and 94 as shown. It will be readilyunderstood that dfiring the final portion of the movement of thepushers, the extension 106 when itengages trip arms 107 and 108 willcause the shafts 91 and 92 to rock on their axes and when the spring 102crosses the center, the clamps or jaws 93 and 94 will snap down into theposition shown in Fi 4.

The described details of construction and operation being illustrativeof-only one phase of. my invention, it will be understood that the scopeof same should be determined by reference to the appended claims, saidclaims being constru'ed as broadly as possible,consistent with the stateof the art.

' I claim as my invention: I

1. In a machine for inserting springs into open ended flexible pockets,the combination of'a pusher for thrusting a spring into a pocket, aretainer for holding the spring in said pocket after its insertion, andmeans for actuating said retainer synchronized with the pusher. v

2. In a machine. for inserting springs between the folds of a two-plyflexible strip, the

combination of a chute adapted to extend between said folds, a plungerreciprocable in said chute to force a spring therethrough and betweensaid folds, a retainer for preventing retraction of said spring, andmeans for actuating said retainer synchronized with the plunger.

3. In a machine for inserting springs between the folds of a two-plyflexible strip, the combination of a chute adapted to extend betweensaid folds, a plunger reciprocable in said chute to force aspringtherethrough and between said folds, a retainer for preventingretraction of said spring, and means for ac tuating said retaineroperated by the movement of the plunger.

1. In a machine for inserting springs between the folds of 'a two-plystrip, the combination of a chute adapted to enter between said folds, asupport movable relative to said chute to bring a spring in to registerwith said chute, a pusher for thrusting said spring through said chuteinto the space between said folds, and a retaining device for preventingretraction of said spring synchronized with the pusher.

5. In a machine for inserting springs between the folds of a foldedflexible strip, the combination of a conveyor having a plurality ofspring receiving members secured thereto, means for advancing saidconveyor and receiving members step by step, means for deliveringsprings one by one to said receiving members as the latter are movedinto receiving position, a plurality of spaced chutes having portionsadapted to enter between the folds of said strip, said chutes beingdisposed to one side of the receiving members carried by said conveyorso as to register axially with a corresponding plurality of receivingmembers when the latter are stationary, a pusher for simultaneouslythrusting a plurality of sprin s from said receiving members throughsaid 0 iutes and into said strip, and means for actuating said pusherwhen a predetermined number of loaded spring receiving members registerwith said chutes.

JOHN F. GAIL.

